Floating elevator or lighter.



Wz'in ass es:

No. 812,206. PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906. M. S. IVBRSON. FLOATING ELEVATOR OR LIGHTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAILM, 1904.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1.

PATENTED FEB. 13, L906.

M. S. IVERSON. FLOATING ELEVATOR 0R LIGHTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAILM. 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WhM J1 Inventor o. 812,206. PATENTBD PEB.13, 1906. M. s. IVBRSON. PLOATING'ELEVATOR OR LIGHTER. APPLICATION LEILED MAR.14, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

In venioi Wz'in 6886? PATENTED FEB. 13; 1906.

FLOATING ELEVATOR 0R LIGHTER.

APPLICATION FILED MA B,.-l4, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET i. \n \r:

K Q AmN NEE Wiznesses:

In z/erziar MICHAEL S. IVERSON, OF NEW YORK, N.

FLOATING ELEVATOR on LlGl-iTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1906.

Application filed March 14, 1904, Serial No. 197,918.

To all whom it may concern.-

' Be it known that I,'MICHAEL S. IVERSON,

a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and accompanying and forming part of the same.

This invention relates generally to conveyers and elevators, and particularly to floating elevators or lighters; and its object is-to provide simple and efiicient means for dischargin a cargo of grain or other loose material.

lily invention consists in certain combinations of -devices, features of construction, and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

a side elevation of a lig ter built according to my improvements, the hull being shown in longitudinal section. tion of the. hull. Fig. 3 1s a detail showing one form ofweighing means which may be placed at the bottom of a bucket-shaft. Fig. 4'is a plan of the bins and elevator-shafts in the hold of the lighter. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a band conveyer. Fig. 6 is a plan of a strip of flooring running along the middle ortion of the li hter and beneath which the ower reach of llifiahim conveyer runs, said view showing independently-operable gates in the floor over the buckets of the conveyor.

Fig. 7 is a sectionof Y the lower reach of, the band conveyer, showing the relative arrangement of the buckets. Fig. 8 is a-section on line VIII VIII, Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a section online IX IX, Fig. 5. Fig.,1 0is a plan view of a sectionof thelower reach of the band, showing one form of sprocket-chain which may be used therein. Fig. 11 is a front elevation of the superstructure of one of the elevators seen at Fig. 1. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a gate for closing a chute that receives discharge irom the upper reach of the band conveyer. Fig.13 1s a diagrammatic detail of" means-for tilting a floor-leaf rovided in a bin; whereby the grain may e shifted toward the conveyor.

In the several views like parts are identiiied by like signs.

At Fig. .5 is illustrated the preferred formof a band conveyer, which comprises an endless chain 1, a pair of wheels 2- 3', over which Fi 2 is a cross-sec-' and the latter having sprockets 4- to drive the chain and buckets 5, connected to the chain. The band comprises an upper reach 6 and a lower reach 7. In the latter the buckets are in normal condition, or open at'the top, to receive the grain or material to be conveyed,- while in travelingup over the wheel 2 the buckets become inverted, and hence. capable of discharging their contents. The lower reach of the conveyor runs upon rolls 8, suitably mounted upon the bottom of floor-90f the lighter, and overlying said lower reach is an upper strip of flooring 10, extending longitudinally of the lighter and at about its middle portion, said strip 10 cooperating with the rollers 8 to guide the lower reach 7, thereby preventing the buckets from shaking ,out their contents. The grain carried in the lighter discharges through apertures 11, formed in said strip, into the buckets 5 in the lower reach. To prevent spilling the mate.- rial'from the buckets after they are filled and before the point of discharge is reached, an en dless belt 12 runs over the Wheel 2 and directly in contact with the wheel-rim, thus occupying a position between the buckets and the wheel, so as to close the mouths of the former. The belt is sufficiently narrow to lie between the inner links 13, Fig. 5, of the chain 1, completely covering the buckets, so that the contents thereof cannot escape. From the top of the wheel 2 the belt 12 runs partly along the upper reach 6 of the band conve er and in contact with the buckets, still eeping them closed, as at 14, Fig. 5, and at a point about midway between the wheels 2 and 3 the belt runs down around an idle pulle 15,

and thence directly back and finally own'.

over an idle pulley 16 to the wheel 2. Beneath the return portion of the belt is a guard or partition 17, which closes in the belt and sprocket-wheel 3 and thence down' to the- IIO lower reach 7 to become refilled. U on both the chain runs, the former being an idle wheel I sides of said chute the upper reac. is sup ported by suitable rolls 21, located above the partitions 17 and 19, and a guard or partition 4 22 overlies the upper reach and extends either into a chute upon the other side of the lighter.

link 25, ig. 12, and lever 26.

down aroundthe wheels 2 3, as at '23, to the floor 9 of the lighter. The overlying strip 22 may be flush with or form part of the deck of The-chute'or well 20 is provided at 'each side with a spout or discharge v23, having a ate 24, which may be lifted by a Buckets 27 receive the discharges from said s outs and preferablyrest upon platforms 28 of scales 29,

Fig. 3,.whereby the weight of the contents of each bucket may be ascertained. Said Tplatforms are at the lower portions of shafts 30,- one at each side of the band conveyer alreadydescribed, and may be hoisted up said shafts by means of ropes 31, connected to any suitable winding means.

. One of the hoisting-buckets may dump into a chute 32, shown near'the top of a superstructure 33, rising-from the deck 34 .of the lighter, while theother bucket may dump the superstructure or else may be hoisted farther and dumped into a chute 36, which is supported above the-chute 32 and on the Y same side of the lighten Hence the lighter ma discharge from both sides simultaneous y or ma discharge all at one side, as may be require Each dumping-chute is rovided with a movable spout 37, adjustab e to '44, carried by the lower end of'a vertical shaft 45, whose upper end isprovided with a hand-wheel 46 above the deck 34 of the lighter, whereby any gate may be 0" ened or closed conveniently and independent y of the other gates. As seen at Fig. 4, the hold may be divided on each side by a series of parti tion's 47, which are a convenience in connection with the gates 42 in keeping the-lighter in proper trim as well as being otherwise desirable.

Upon the floor of each bin or compartment lies a leaf 48, Figs. 2 and 13, hinged at its lower edge at 49, so that it may be tilted up tourge or shift the material toward the band conveyer. The upper ed e of the leaf lies normally under a hinged dap 50, which revents material from dropping into the b1 ge, said flap bein caught by a latch 51 when it is lifted by the eaf. The latter is operable by means of a series of arms 52 depending from its under side and connected b a chain or chains .-53 to a shaft-like win ass 54, the

, a sprocket-pinion 57 havin chute 20, hoisting-buckets cargo-may be discharged f 'wardly,

middle strip 10 to with the upper sides thereof.

chain, a series siaeoc chain being preferably continuous and winding upon the shaft between the arms, as

shown at Fig. 13. by means of a pinion 55 thereon, meshes with a sprocket or gear wheel 56, the latter being connected by a hand-wheel 58 and mounted above the dec 34 of the lighter As seen at-Fig.'13, theshaft-operating mechanis'm may be duplicated at the ends of the shaft for convenience. Preferably there is The shaft may be rotated which a sprocket-chain to one leaf in each of the compartments formed by the partitions 47- in the hold.

Referring to that the lighter is provided'with two of the Figs., 1- and 4, a will be teendescribed ba'nd'conveyers," each 'having apair-of wheels, .and the wheels 2 in each pair eing-m'ounted concentrically or upon the: same shaft 59 rnidwayof the lighter. Each of the band conveyers is provided with a &c., wherebythe taneously, which is an advantage' 1. A band conveyer comprising-a seriesof- .buckets, the band having upper and-lower invention, 1

ore and aft simul-z reaches, and the buckets oeing so attached I that-they are inverted while m the upper reach, a wheel over which said bandflruns up and a belt running upon said wheel and partly along the upper reach- 0f said band, and covering the mouths of the buck etswhile runningup over-saidwheeland after they leave the wheel. a

I 2. Aband conveyer comprisin a'sprocket- IOO chain, a series of buckets attac ed thereto, theband having upper and lower reaches,

and the buckets being so. attached that'the'y are inverted while in the upper reach, :a sprocket-wheel for driving the band, a wheel over which said bands run upwardly, a belt running upon the last mentioned wheel, an idle pulley for said belt between said wheels and immediately beneath the upper reach of: said band, rolls supporting both the lower and upperreaches of said band and also the reach said belt between said idle pulley'and said upwardly-running band-wheel, and guards; n 5 in contiguity for cooperation with said rolls, said guardsextending along said reaches 3. A band conveyer'comprisin of buckets attao ed at them open ends to sa d chain, the band-having up er and lower reaches, wheels whereon t e and runs, includin a sprocket-Wheel and an idle wheel over w 'oh the band runs-up-- -wardly, a bucket-closing belt running over said idle wheel and partly along) tl-he i1 per and curving-'- lit;

a sprocket around said band-wheels to the lower side thereof.

4. In combination, a band conveyor comprising a series of buckets and having a lower prising a series of buckets and having a lower reach in which the buckets are supported in normal condition. and an upper reach in which the buckets Ears inverted, wheels for operating the band, a bin having a floor interposed between the reaches and located closely adjacent to the lower reach, said floor being provided with a discha'rgi-ng-apbrtur above said lower reach, a belt traveling over one of the operating-wheels and covering the mouths of the loaded buckets while they travel to the upper reach, and means for receivingthe dischargeirozn the buckets in the upper 'leach.

6. in combination, a band conveyer comprising a series of bucketsand having a lower reach inwhich the buckets. are supported in normal condition and an'upper reach in which the buckets are inverted, wheels for opera-ting the band, a bin having afloor beneath wln'ch said lower reach travels; 'said bin being divided into a series of compartrneuts, and said floor being provided with a series of gates overlying said lower? reach, means for opening any gate independently of the others, a' belt traveling over onel'jo'l? said eels and covering the mouths of the loaded uckets while they travel upwardly and" partly along the upper reach, and means for receiving the discharge from the buckets in the upper reach.

7. in combination, a band conveyer hav- .eng upper and lower reaches, a bin having a slop ng floor beneath the lower portion of I which said lower reach travels and also having means for discharging into said lower reach, a hinged floor-deaf provided with a set of lifting-arms, a shaft extending along said leaf, chain connections from said shaft to said. arms, whereby the winding of the chain on the shaft lifts the arms-and leaf, a pinion. upon said shaft, a gear meshing with sald pin ion, a sprocket-chain connected to said gear, and a hand-wheel having a sprocket-pinion over which said chain runs.

8. An elevator comprisin a band conveyer provided with buckets and having a lower reach in which the buckets are supported in normal condition and an upper reach in which the buckets are inverted, means for dischar ing into the, buckets in the lower reach, a belt for covering the mouths of the loaded buckets as they travel. to and partly along the upper reach, a chute beneath said upper reach for receiving the discharge from the buckets, a bucket into which said chute dischargesnnd means for hoisting said bucket.

9. An elevator comprising a band'c'onveyer provided with buckets and having a lower reach in which the buckets are supported in normal condition and an up er reach in which the buckets are inverted, a liin having means for dischar ing intothe buckets in the lower reach, a bet for covering the mouths of the loaded buckets as they travel to and partly along the upper reach, a chute beneath the buckets in'the upper reach at the cndof said belt and provided with spouts upon its opposite sides, and gates for the spouts.

10. An elevator comprising a band conveyer provided with, buckets and having a lower reach in which the buckets are supported in normal condition and an upper reach in which the buckets are inverted, wheels whereon the band runs, a bin having a floor above said lower reach and provided with means for discharging into said lower reach, a belt running over one of said wheels and covering the mouths of the loaded buckets, an idle pulley into the lower reach, a chute beneath said upes reach, spouts for said chute at the sides of'swidconveyer, gates for said spouts, shafts into which said spouts open, buckets into which said spouts dischargaand means for hoisting the last-mentioned buckets up said shafts.

12. The combination of a band conveyor provided with buckets and having a lower reach in WlllCll the buckets are'suppcrted 111 normal condition and an upperreacli in which i the buckets are inverted, a bin discharging filled buckets as they move to the upper reach, a chute beneath said upper reach, a spout for said chute at the sideof said conveyer, a bucket into which said spout discharges, and means for weighing and hoisting the filled bucket. 13. An elevator comprising a band conveyer provided with buckets and having a lower reach in which the buckets are supported in normal condition and-an upper reach in which the buckets are inverted, means for closin the buckets as they move 11 wwrdl and 011g the upper reach, a chute eneat into the lower reach, means for closihg the the upper reach, spouts for said chute at the sides of said conveyer, shafts into which said spouts open, buckets'into which said spouts discharge, means for hoisting said buckets up said shafts, a dumping-chute u on one side of the elevator for one of said 5 aft-buckets, and two dumpingchutesone above the other upon the otherside of said elevator, one for each of said'shaft-buckets.

14. 'An elevator comprising a pluralitg oi band conveyers each provided with but: ets

and each having an upper reach and a lower reach, bins having means fror discharging into 'the lower reaches, chutes beneath the upper for closing the filled buckets as they move up and along the upper reaches, chutes beneath the upper reaches and each having discharges upon opposite sides, buckets for receiving the discharges from said chutes, means for hoisting said receiving-buckets, and dumpmg-chutes for said receiving-buckets. v

16. An elevator comprising two. adjoining I band conveyers, each being provided with buckets and having a lower reach in which the buckets are in normal condition and an upper reach in which thebuckets are invert ed, a pair of wheels over which each band.

runs, a wheel in one 1pair being mounted side by side with awhee in the other pair, belts closing the mouths of the buckets as they move up and along the upper reaches and chutes beneath said upper reaches.

17. A lighter having bins whose flooring slopes downwardly from the sides toward the center of the vessel, partitions dividing said bins into compartments, gates in the flooring along! the middle of the vessel, means for opening said (gates independently of one 8111- other, two a oining band conveyers, each conveyer being provided with buckets and eialeus having a lower reach in which the buckets are in normal condition and an upper reach inwhich the buckets are inverted, said lower reaches running beneath said gates, a air of wheels over which each band runs, a w eel in one pair being mounted side by side with a wheel in the-{other pair, belts closing the mouths of the filled buckets as they move u and along the upper reaches, chutes beiieat the'upper reaches, shafts, at the sides of each chute, buckets inthe shafts into which the chutes discharge, means for hoisting the buck.- ets, and dumping-chutes for the buckets.

18. A lighter having a deck and a bottom a band conveyer provided with buckets and comprising a lower reach running along said bottom and an upperreach running al'on the upper side of said decl ,-wheels over W 'ch the buckets run, flooring immediately overlying said lower reach and slopin upwardly therefrom to the sides of the lig ter, partk tions dividing the space between said deck and said fiooring-apertures in the flooring above the buckets in said lower reach, gates for closin the, apertures{ a belt closing the months 0 the buckets as the pass from the lower to the upper reach, a c ute at the ter- 7 I mination' of said belt and below said upper reach, a discharge for said chute, and means for hoisting the material discharged from the chute.

19. A lighter havingbins arranged about a well, a 'conveyer to carry material from the bins to the welhand means for hoisting the material and dischargingthe same, comprisinga superstructure or elevator above the well, a pair of buckets receiving material from the conveyer, means for hoisting the buckets,

a chute for each bucket to receive the material thereiroin, said chutes being arranged to discharge on opposite sides-of the lighter, a third chute arranged above one of the others, discharging on the saine side, and extending across the su erstructure or elevator to repeivle materia from the other bucket, as set ort 1. i

MICHAEL S. IVERSON, Witnesses;

M, LAwscn' Diana, 5. S. Dunner r 

